Remote-control electric switch



May 4,1926, 1,532,987

G. W. HART REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 6, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 y/k/m 'INVENTOR I ATTORNEY G. W. HART REMOTE CONTROL ELELCTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 6 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 XNVENTOR May 4 1926.

' G. W. HART REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRIC SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6 L 1924 ATTORNEY INVENTOR May 1926. 1,582,987

. G. W. HART REMOTE CONTROL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 4, 1926.

GERALD VJ. HART, OF WEST HAS/T59R13, CONNECTICUT.

' REMOTE-CONTROL Application filed December To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GERALD \V. l-lAn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing tlb West Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Remote-Control Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to remote control electric switches and has for its object to produce a new and improved remote con-' trol switch having an opening coil and a closing coil whose axes are in alinement with one another. It further has for its object to produce a switch of the character described having means for locally interrupting the circuit of each coil after it has performed its intended function. It further has for its object to produce a new and improved remote control switch which shall be compact and durable and accurate in its operation. It further has for its object to produce a new and improved automatic means for causing the switch to locally open and close the controlling circuits. It further has for its object to produce a new and improved means for adjusting the throw of the switch arm.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a single pole remote control switch embodying my invention on a plane parallel to the switch arms, the switch being in open position;

Fig. 2 shows a similar section on a plane at 90 from the plane of Fig. 1, with the switch arm in closed position; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch;

Fig. 4-. is a sectional view on the line 1- 1, Fig. 1, looking upwards;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, showing the parts with the switch in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a diagram of circuits;

Fig. 7 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing the arrangement for a double pole switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 2 is a switch base of magnetic material upon which is mounted a switch closing coil at and a detent releasing coil 6, said coils surrounding a bras'stiibe 8. 10 is magnetic plate separating the two coils and forming ELECTRIC swrron.

6, 1924. Serial No. 754,275.

a part of their magnetic circuits. 12 is a magnetic housing surrounding the two coils and forming a part of thelr magnetlc circuits. 14: is a top plate of insulating material secured to the housing by screws 16. 18 is a switch arm plunger of brass or other non-magnetic material whose upper portion is guided by a bushing 20 and whose lower portion is within and guided by a perforate boss 22 integral with the base 2. Below this boss is a circular shoulder 24 forming a 100K ing abutment for the locking means hereinafter described. 26 is a plate screwed upon the upper end 28 of the switch plunger 18, the upper end of said plunger being slotted as shown at 30. 32 is a screw threaded plug which enters a correspondingly screw-threaded recess in the upper end of the switch arm plunger and expands said upper end so as to lock the plunger against rotary movement relatively to the plate 26. 84: are switch arms carried by the plate 26 and insulated therefrom, said switch arms being adapted when depressed to engage contact plates 36 and 38 so as to close the main circuit to be controlled. 40 are spring casings secured to the housing 12 and telescoping within spring casings 42 secured to the plate 26 and enclosing springs .14 which tend to move the switch arms 8 f together with the plate 26 to open position as shown in Fig. 1.

lVithin the spring arm plunger is a detent plunger d6 having a pin 18 passing through a slot in the switch arm plunger and adapted to move to and fro therein so as to permit lost motion between the two plungers. This plunger is provided with a knob 52 for manually operating it to release the detent. 54 is a detent plunger head engaging detent balls 56 located in holes 58 in the switch arm plunger, said detent plunger being provided with recesses 60 which when the detent plunger is in the position shown in Fig. 1' relatively to the switch arm plunger pern'iits the balls to be retracted as shown in Fig. 1. The detent plunger is also provided with surfaces 62 which when the switch arm plunger is depressed forces the balls outward to the position shown in Fig.

5 so that they lie partially beneath the shoulder so as to hold the switch arm plunger in depressed position with the switch closed. The parts are so proportioned that the co rs of the be when the parts are in. the positioiii shetvn 'tend to move the detentphinger downward relatively to'the switch arm plunger. 66 is a magnetic armature slidingly mounted upon the switch arm plunger and in its downward pesition engaging a shoulder 68 thereon and in its upper position adapted 'to engage the shoulders ii'ormedby the pin 48. This arn'iature when the switch in in open position lies within-the switch opening coil '6 and extends partially into the coil 4t so that whenthe closing coil is energized 'the armature is drawn into it si'n'iiciently to depress the switch arm plunger-and move the switch arm to closed position. 'VVhen the switch is in closed position, the major ;part of the armature lies within the closing coil *4 and partially extends into the detent releasing coil-'6 so that'whenthe detent releasing coil 'is energized the armature is raised sr'rlficiently to engage the "detent gplunger 'pin48 and lift the detent plunger until' the cavities "60 are opposite the balls 56 permitting the balls to be retreated rel-a.- tivly tothe switch arm plunger under the in'Hnenceof the spring 14 to the position 'shown in 1 whereupon thesprings 411- .rai-se the-sw-itch arm plunger and connected 'parts'to the position shown in Fi'g. 1.

70 is a contact inseries with theswitch closing'c0il 4e, and'72 'is a contact in series with thedetent releasing coil'6. '74 and"76 are two movable local-circuit-controlling contacts electrically connected together snd to the source-of currentsupply "for locally making and breaking the control circuits throughthe coils 6 and "4. The member "74!; is-engaged by a spring78 mounted upon a headed pirrSO whielrtends to hold the contact 74in engagement with the contact'TO. 82 is a second spring surrounding said headed pin and engaging the movable eontaetl'rdancl tending to hold said contact out of. engagement'with the contact 72. Set-are 'upward projections connected to, but insulated "from, the contact '76 which lie in the path of the end of the switch arm plunger '18 so that whenthe switch arm lunger is moved to the end'ot its throw 'where it willbe looked, as shown in Fig.5, the end-ott'the pl'unger engaging the projections 841 will have forced the contact 78 downward andln'ild'it in engagement with the contact 72. The contact 7% lies in the path of the detent plunger head 62 and, after the switch arm plunger has been moved (l0\\l1Wi-U.'(l and during the subsequent '88 lSuzUTillSlllELtliig plate upon which the contacts 70 and "F2 and double cont-act Tet, 76 are mounted-seas to be insulated from each other and from othe par-ts. is a bott {21 plate for the switch.

l n'the one pole switch, the terminals oi the circuit to be controlled are connected to theplat-es 3838, 36 being a bridge plate which is engaged by the corres ondhg ends of both switch arms 34. i fhcn'it is desired to have a two-pole switch, thet-woseparate plates 39 provided with proper binding screws are substitutedfor'the plate 36, as shown 111'Flg.-7 Thelnain contact plates 38"38 and 3-939 are separated by the usual.barrier 92. The base is provided with a contact block 94 having terminals to which'the'control circuits through the coils 6. and 4.- .are connected.

Fig. Gshows adiagram of circuits indicatin the means 'for controlling'the 1 current through the coils Sande, the same consisting of a switch arm 96 adapted to engage and disengage'the terminals 98 and 100 eon- -nectingrantl disconnecting them from the source oftcurrent. This member 96 can be actuated manually or may be a thermostat as in d-icate'd inFig. '6 so that it'may-be also actuated tl lermestatically. This device-96 "never acts tozinterrupt the current passing 't-hrough the coils 6 or 'd-such interruption taking place at the contacts '70 and 72, so that there' is no sparkingat the contacts 98 orlOO, thus makin-g'the arrangement one which is particularly adapted 'torcontrol by thermostatic means.

The contact TGhas-an upwardly turned arm 102 which plays loosely in aplate 104i and-is surroundedbyaneyelet 106 in the rear end otthe eonta-ctM. This construction permits the rear portion of the CO: racts 74 and 7G'tomove independently of their otheren ds so that after'its front end engages the contact72'the rear end of t ie contact 76 can be further depressed at its front end. The housinglQ is held to the base by clamping plates secured'to the base by screws.

Assuming-that the switch is in open position as shown in Fig. 1 and the circuit through thecoil 4C is thereafter closed, that springs 4% lift coil acts to move the armature 66 downward carrying with it the switch arm plunger 18 together with the switch arms connected thereto. lVhen the switch arm has reached its lowermost position, where the balls 56 are adapted to be forced beneath the shoulder 24, the spring 6% forces the detent plunger downward and forces the balls 56 to pass beneath said shoulders 2% thus locking the switch arms in closed position, the switch arm plunger having acted to close a local circuit at the contact 7 2 and the detent plunger acting to open a local circuit at the contact as above described, leaving the parts as shown in the position in Figs. 2 and 5.

position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and the coil 6 is energized the armature 66 is raised so to engage the pin 20 and lift the detent plunger sufficiently to permit the balls 56 to be disengaged from the shoulders 24, this disengagement being brought about by the action of the springs a l lifting the switch arm plunger. After this disengagement the both the switch arm plunger and the detent plunger to the position shown in Fig. 1.

When the detent plunger is first raised it permits the contact 7% to move toward the contact 70 and to come into engagement therewith, and when the switch arm plunger is sufliciently raised it permits the contact 7 to move away from the contact 72 and locally break the circuit through the coil 6 at that point.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art my invention permits of various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims. What I claim is:

1. In a remote control switch, the combination of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arm, a detent plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, and two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said armature in opposite directions, and locking means adapted to be moved into and released from loclring position by said detent plunger when said switch arm plunger is depressed.-

2. In a remote control switch, the combination of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arms, a detent plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said. armature in oppolocking means adapted to site directions,

When the parts are in the be moved into and released from looking position by said detent plunger when said switch arm plunger is depressed, and means controlled by said detent plunger for opening the circuit through the switch arm actuating coil after that circuit has been onergized and performed its function.

In a remote control switch, the combination of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arm, a detent plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said armature in opposite directions, locking means adapted to be moved into and released from looking position by said detent arm plunger when said switch arm plunger is depressed, means controlled by said detent. plunger for opening the circuit through the switch arm actuating coil after that circuit has been energized and performed its function, and means actuated by said switch arm plunger for closing the circuit through the other coil after the switch arm actuating coil has been energized.

4t. In a remote control switch, the combi nation of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arm, a detent plunger, an armature surounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said armature in opposite directions, locking means adapted to be moved into and released from looking position by said detent plunger when said switch arm plunger is depressed, said detent plunger being within said switch arm plunger, and a spring tending to move said detent plunger relatively to said switch arm plunger.

5. In a remote control switch, the combination of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arm, a detent plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said armature in opposite directions locking means adapted to be moved into and released from looking position by said detent plunger, said detent, plunger being within said switch arm plunger, and a spring tending to move said detent plunger relatively to said switch arm plunger, said plungers having lost motion relatively to one another and to said armature and acting as opposed stops for said armature,

6. In a remote control switch, the comloi nation oi aswitch arm, contactsadapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arm,a detent-plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plunger and adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively to move said arn'iature in opposite directions, locking means adapted to be moved into and released from locking position by said detent plunger, said coils being surrounded by a magnetic casing and being separated by a magnetic member common to the magnetic circuits of said coils.

7. In a remote control switclnvthe combi; nation of a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch. arnrplunger connected to said switch arm, a detent plung er, an arn'iature adaptedvto move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said armature and acting respectively to move said. armature in opposite directions, locking means adapted to be moved into and released from locking position by said detent plunger when said switch arm plunger-is depressed, and means controlled by said plungers and interrupting and closing the circuits of said two coils alternately at local points and maintaining each of said circuits closed at said points until it has completed its function.

S. In aremote control switch, the combination or a switch arm, contacts adapted to be engaged thereby, a switch arm plunger connected to said switch arnna detent plunger, an armature surrounding said switch arm plungenand adapted to move said plungers in opposite directions, two coils having their axes in alinement with the axis of said switch arm plunger and acting respectively toinove said armature in opposite directions, and locking means adapted to be moved into and released from locking position by said detent ilun 'er when said switch arm lun 'er is t: I I a depressed, said switch arm engaging its con tacts when said switch arm plunger 1s m locked position.

GERALD W. HART. 

